Stacey Waaka set for NZ Warriors NRLW debut
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
Black Ferns rugby union superstar Stacey Waaka has been named to make her Warriors NRLW debut in Sunday’s round two encounter with the Raiders at GIO Stadium in Canberra (2.00pm NZT).
The 30-year-old, who made six appearances for the Broncos in 2024, comes into the side on
the wing replacing prolific try scorer Payton Takimoana who suffered a shoulder injury in the
club’s impressive season-opening 32-10 win over the Bulldogs in Hamilton on Sunday.
LATEST HEADLINES:
Waaka will become NRLW Warrior #80 after Gayle Broughton, Mya Hill-Moana, Jay Huriwai
and Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa debuted for the club on Sunday (Huriwai and Onesemo-
Tuilaepa making their maiden NRLW appearances as well).
The Warriors have also lost middle forward Laishon Albert-Jones with a calf injury while prop
Mya Hill-Moana has been hit with a one-match suspension.
Tonga international Metanoia Fetalaiga moves into the starting front row for Hill-Moana
while Ivana Lauitiiti is added to the bench after serving a suspension last week dating back
to the Kiwi Ferns’ Pacific Championships final loss to the Jillaroos last November.
New signing Mele Hufanga (hamstring) remains on the injured list along with Matekino Gray,
Kaiyah Atai, Anastasia Sekene and Tyra Wetere plus Albert-Jones and Takimoana.
New Zealand Warriors travel to Canberra on Friday ahead of their first visit to the
Australian national capital. When the two sides met in round seven in Hamilton last year,
the Raiders prevailed 20-16.
NRLW | ROUND 2
One New Zealand Warriors v Canberra Raiders
12.00pm, Sunday, July 12, 2026
GIO Stadium, Canberra
One New Zealand Warriors
1 Apii Nicholls (c)
2 Stacey Waaka
3 Tysha Ikenasio
4 Emmanita Paki
5 Lavinia Tauhalaliku
6 Gayle Broughton
7 Patricia Maliepo
8 Annetta Nuuausala
9 Capri Paekau
10 Metanoia Fetalaiga
11 Maarire Puketapu
12 Shakira Baker
13 Ashlee Matapo
Interchange:
14 Jay Huriwai
15 Harata Butler
16 Ivana Lauitiiti
17 Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa
18 Natalia Hickling
19 Felila Kia
20 Ocean Tierney
